Tehran Municipality negotiating to restore Taq Kasra in Iraq

TEHRAN - Tehran Municipality is in talks with Baghdad's urban
planners and authorities to restore a number of aging monuments in Iraq
including Taq Kasra, which is an architecturally-important Sasanian-era Persian
monument.

Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday evening upon an
official invitation from his Iraqi counterpart to exchange views for deepening
cooperation in various areas, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Tehran Municipality has showed its readiness for restoring historical monuments
in Iraq, particularly Ivan Madaen (Taq Kasra) in collaboration with Iranian
companies, which was welcomed by Baghdad, the report added.

"Skills of Iranian experts in the arena of restoring Iraq's historical and
ancient monuments were discussed in various meetings with Iraqi officials, and
it was decided to follow up on future meetings and negotiations," IRNA quoted
Hanachi as saying.

"We had very good and successful talks with Iraqi officials and we hope to have
a follow-up session after the holy month of Ramadan (June 5 onwards)."

Taq Kasra, also called Ivan Madaen or the Archway of Ctesiphon, are names given
to the remains of a circa 3rd-6th-century Sasanian-era Persian monument, which
is located near the modern town of Salman Pak, a city located approximately 15
miles (24 km) south of Baghdad.

The arch was part of the imperial palace complex, however, an exact time of its
construction is not known with certainty. Some historians believe the founder is
Shapour I who ruled Persia from 242 to 272 CE and some other believe that
construction possibly began during the reign of Anushiruwan the Just (Khosrow I)
after a campaign against the Byzantines in 540 CE.